How to propagate Christmas cactus by cuttings

Required Tools and Materials

Perlite, rubber bands or string, soluble flower fertilizer, sharp and clean scissors, paper plates or paper towels, containers with holes in the bottom, clear plastic bags, small spoons, flower pots with holes in the bottom and a water dish.

Cutting operation steps

1

On the Christmas cactus, choose the ones with strong growth around 3-7 nodes and cut them with clean and sharp scissors.

2

Place the cut branches on a paper plate or paper towel and let them sit for the cut wound to dry and heal. The waiting time ranges from 1 day to 2 weeks, depending on the size of the cut surface. When the cut wound heals, you can start grafting.

The branches of Christmas cactus can store water, so leaving it to dry for a short period of time will not harm it. Of course, it cannot be left there for too long, otherwise it will wither.

3

Place the pearl stone in a pot and wet it. There must be drainage holes at the bottom of the pot to prevent water from accumulating in the pot and causing the Christmas cactus to rot. You can also use half peat soil and half sandy soil.

4

Insert the spare branch into the soil, about 2-3 cm deep. Water appropriately to allow the soil around the branches to stabilize and hold the plant in place.

Then cover the pot with a transparent plastic bag and seal the bag with a rubber band or string.

5

Place the container in a location with bright, indirect light. Check 2-3 times a week and add a small amount of water if the soil is dry.

If there is condensation in the plastic bag, you can open the bag for 1-2 hours to ventilate it. In this way, the branches will take root in about 6-8 weeks.

6

After about 6-8 weeks, carefully dig the Christmas cactus out of the soil with a small spoon. If you see the roots are already 2-3 cm long. Transplant into a larger pot filled with potting soil.

If the roots are still short, you can replant them in the old pot and transplant them after the roots have grown longer.

7

After transplanting, the Christmas cactus should be placed in a place with bright indirect light. Do not place it near doorways, windows, air conditioners, heating ducts, or stoves.

Before watering, insert your finger into the soil and feel it. If the soil one knuckle deep on the surface feels dry, you can water it.

Watering must be done thoroughly at once and continue until water flows out of the drainage holes at the bottom. After watering, you can let it sit for a while until water no longer seeps from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, then put it back on the water tray.

8

During the growing season, add nutrients to the Christmas cactus with water-soluble flower fertilizer every month.